The European Union and Türkiye held their High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) in Istanbul on 2 July 2026, co-chaired by EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis and Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek. During the meeting, Türkiye announced it had submitted a letter of intent to the European Payments Council to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), a move the parties agreed would enable faster, cheaper cross-border payments and facilitate trade and investment.
The dialogue reviewed economic policy developments in both the EU and Türkiye amid geopolitical fragmentation and risks to the economic outlook. Discussions covered Türkiye's steps to ensure price and financial stability and boost productivity, as well as EU efforts to foster competitiveness, with a shared goal of promoting sustainable and inclusive growth. Economic security and deeper bilateral cooperation in strategically important sectors were also addressed. The meeting included representatives from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). Participants welcomed the EIB's renewed engagement in clean energy and energy efficiency projects in Türkiye supporting SMEs and exporters, and noted the EBRD's record €2.7 billion in investments in 2025. The parties expressed interest in further cooperation on transport, energy, and digital connectivity under the Connectivity Agenda.
The High-Level Business Dialogue, held alongside the HLED, brought together business community representatives and IFIs to discuss obstacles to doing business and explore new areas for engagement. The parties agreed to meet again next year in Brussels, reiterating their commitment to regular dialogue and cooperation on economic challenges.